Boring machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' H. H.0UMMINGS.

BORING MACHINE No. 556,492. Patented MaI lV, 1896.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. H. CUMMINGS.

BORING MAOHINE llllllllllllllllllll IHIIIIIIIIIIIIII-I llllllll-llllllllllll No. 556,492. Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

.2 r yerltqrr 9n a zwf m 555. W m (K UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

HENRY ll. CUMMINGS, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHIOKERING & SONS, OF NE'W YORK, N. Y.

BORING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,492, dated March 17', 1896.

Application filed May 25, 1896. Serial No. 550,590. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY I-I. CUMMINGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mal-v den, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boring-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In the manufacture of certain of the wooden parts of a piano-action the saidparts are provided with recesses, especially at the points where the parts are pivoted to adjoining parts. These recesses frequently are located directly opposite each other on opposite sides of the part in which they are formed, and it is essential that there be a body of wood between the said recesses of a definite thickness and that the recesses should exactly coincide in position.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple and effective machine by means of which these oppositely-located recesses may be formed accurately and quickly and 'in such manner as to leave the intervening body of wood of a definite predetermined thickness.

The characteristic features of my invention are particularly pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

I have shown my machine in the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made in the following description, and in which Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a view in front elevation of a machine embodying my invention, the cutter mechanism on the right-hand side thereof being mainly in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a view in elevation thereof, taken from the right-hand side in Fig. 1. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a view showing a vertical section on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5, Sheet 2, are views showing details of the clamping mechanism. Fig. 6, Sheet 1, is a view, mainly in side elevation, but with a portion broken away, of one of the cutterheads with the cutters in place. Fig. 7, Sheet 1, is an end view of the same. Figs. 8 and 9,

Sheet 2, show one of the wooden parts of a piano-action with the recesses that are formed therein by the action of my machine. Fig.

10, Sheet 2, is a view in plan of a detail of the clamping'devices.

Referring to said drawings, A-is an upright standard of suitable form and construction the base of the standard A. Belt-pulleys H, V

by means of which the cutters are actuated, are made fast on the shaft D, one at each side of the standard A.

On top of the standard Ais bolted a frame B having at each side thereof an upright portion provided with an outward extension. 111 each side portion of the frame B is journaled a cutter-shaft J. The cutter-shafts are each provided with a belt-pulley K, and the pulleys K are each connected by a belt K with the pulley H on the corresponding side of the machine. As it is desirable that the cutters should rotate in opposite directions, in order to balance their action on the work, the driving-belt of the cutter-shaft on the right-hand side of the machine is crossed, as shown.

The belt-pulleys K are fast to their respective shafts, and the said shafts are arranged to slide longitudinally to enable the cutters to approach each other to engage the work and to recede from each other after the cutting operation has been performed.

The cutter-shafts J are each provided with a clamping-rod 2, which passes through the shaft lengthwise thereof and which serves to hold the cutter-head securely in place. The cutter-heads are of the form shown in Fig. 6 and are provided, as there shown, with a tapering shank portion 3 having a threaded socket 4:, into which the correspondingly threaded end of the clamping-rod 2 is screwed. The opposite end of the clamping-rod projects beyond the end of the cutter-shaft J and is provided with a nut 5,which is screwed thereon and bears against the end of the shaft, the said nut serving to hold the cutterhead firmly in position at the innerend of the cutter-shaft. The cutter-head is provided with cutters 0, their cutting-edges being shaped to correspond with the out which it is desired to make. The cutters 6 are firmly secured to the head by means of screws (51 or in any other suitable or well-known manner. For the purpose of moving the cutter-shafts longitudinally I provide forks or yoke-shaped pieces 7 7, which respectively enter between a washer 71 adjacent to the end of the pulley K on the corresponding shaft J and a collar 72 made fast to the shaft. (See Fig. 1.) Each piece 7 is secured to a longitudinally movable rod 8, which slides in bearings in the frame B. The outer end of the rod 8 is encircled by a spring 9, the inner end of which rests against the outer end of frame 13, and the outer end of which bears against the part 10, which is secured by means of a clamping-screw 11 to the outer end of the rod 8. The part projects downwardly below the said rod 8 to receive the end of a rod 12, which is passed through a hole in the said part 10 and secured in place by check-nuts 13 on opposite sides of the latter. To the inner end of the rod 12 is connected a chain 14, which latter passes around the guide-pulley 15 and thence extends downwardly and is pivoted to the upper end of the connecting-rod 16. The lower end of each connecting-rod 16 is offset slightly, as shown, Fig. 1, and is pivoted at 18 to the side of the treadle 17.

It will be clear that as the treadle is de pressed by the foot of the operator the chains 1% 14 will be pulled downwardly, moving the rods 12 12 inwardly against the pressure of the springs 9 9. The inward movement of the rods 8 8, to which the yokes or shippers 7 7 are fast, will cause the cutter-shafts to be moved inwardly toward each other, thereby forcing the cutters into engagement with the work. As will be clear, the end of the inward movement of the cutter-shafts will be reached when the stop 171 on the treadle 17 terminates the descent of the said treadle by coming in contact with the base-piece of the standard or with the floor, and thus the body of wood left in the piece between the recesses which are formed therein will be made uniform and of definite thickness. The thickness of said body of wood may be varied as desired by making proper adjustment of the nuts 13 13 on the rods 12 at opposite sides of the parts 10.

In case it is desired to form a hole through the work for the reception of a pin or the like a bit 20, Fig. 6, may be secured by a clamping-screw 201 centrally with relation to either cutter-head and in a suitable socket therein provided to receive the shank of said bit. Like sockets for the reception of a bit 20 are formed in both cutter-heads, but only one bit will be used at a time. As the cutter-heads approach each other at the completion of their inward movement, the working end of the bit 20 will pass into the empty socket of the opposite cutter-head. As previously stated, the number of cutters employed, as well as the shape of their cuttingedges, may be varied in accordance with the shape of the recess which is to be formed.

The work-supporting table 21 is located intermediate the inner ends ofthe cutter-shafts. For the purpose of accommodating pieces of wood of differentshapes and sizes the said table is so mounted as to be adjustable both vertically and in the direction of the length of the blank transversely of the line of cut. The table 21 rests on a laterally-movable bed 22, which is dovetailed to the support 23. An adjusting-rod 24: (see Fig. 3) extends lengthwise of the support 23, in an aperture therein, and is provided about mid-length thereof with a worm 25, the part 23 being cut away centrally to accommodate said worm. The worm 25 engages a rack 26, formed at the under side of the sliding support 22. By turning the rod 24 the support 22 may be adj usted laterally, as will be clear. These devices may be utilized, if desired, in forming a longitudinal slot or recess. All that is necessary in such case is to rotate the rod at by hand while the cutters are in the work, and thereby feed the work transversely with relation to the said cutters. The part 23 is provided with a shank 27, the upper portion of which is threaded and on which is placed a threaded nut 28, hearing on the upper surface of frame B. The lower end of the shank 27 slides vertically in a socket formed in a downwardly projecting portion 29 of the frame B. A clainpingscrew 300, the head of which projects outside the standard A, passes through a threaded hole in the downwardlyprojecting portion 29 of the frame 13 and engages by its inner end the shank 27. By loosening the clamping-screw 300 and turning the nut 28 the work-support may be adjusted vertically, and when the proper adjustment is obtained the said work-support may be firmly secured in position by again tightening the clamping-screw 300. For the purpose of clamping the work quickly and securely in position I provide a clamp mechanism which comprises a fixed clamping member 41 and a yoke-shaped clamp 30, (see Fig. 3,) having a shank 31, which is set in a socket formed in the clamp-block 32. The clamp 30 is left free normally to turn or swivel on the said shank as a center or pivot, so as to enable it to adjust itself automatically to the sides of a wedge-shaped block. If desired, the clamp may be firmly secured in place by tightening up the screws 33 33, which pass through slots 330 330 in said clamp. The two upwardly-projecting fingers of the clamp 30 enable it to engage the work on each side of the line of cut.

The clamp-block 32 has a hole therethrough to receive the rod 35, which is arranged to slide longitudinally in a bearing 36 at one side of the work-supporting table 21. The

end of the clamp-block is split, as shown, and is clamped upon the rod 35 by means of a screw 34. (See Figs. 3 and 4.) A spring 37 encircles said rod 35 and bears at one end against the clamp-block 32 and at the other against the side of the said work-support. The spring 37 serves to free the clamp from the work. A wire 321, fixed to the support 23, (see Fig. 3,) passes through a hole 322 in the free end of the clamp-block 32, and thereby sustains said free end. The work (indicated at 40, Figs. 4 and 5) is placed on top of the work-supporting table and against the stationary block 41, which engages one side of the work. The clamp 30 projects upwardly through a slot 42 in the said table and engages the opposite side of the Work, holding it firmly against the said stationary block 41. At Fig. 4 the clamp is shown as disengaged from the work, while in Fig. 5 it is shown as engaging the work.

For the purpose of forcing the clamp into engagement with the work I form a slot at the outer end of the rod 35, to which the clamp-block is secured. In the slot I place a roll 50, and behind the roll a vertically-sliding actuating-arm 51 passes through said slot. At one point on the said arm 51 I form a rounded notch 52, into which the roll 50 fits. \Vhen the roll 50 is opposite said notch, the rod 35 will be moved toward the right by the pressure of the spring 37, and the clamp will be freed from the work. If the arm 51 be drawn downwardly,.forcing the roll out of the notch 52, the rod 35 will be moved in the opposite direction and the clamp caused to engage the work. For the purpose of moving the arm 51 downwardly the lower end thereof is clamped to the upper end of a connectingrod 53. The lower end of the connecting-rod 53 is pivoted at 54 to one of the side portions of the treadle 17, and as the point 54 is farther from the fulcrum 55 of the treadle-lever than the points 18, at which are pivoted the connecting-rods 16 16, which actuate the cutter longitudinally, the rod 53 and arm 51 will be moved downwardly more rapidly than rods 16 16, thereby causing the work to be clamped before the cutters engage the work. The first portion of the movement of the treadle therefore clamps the work,and the continued downward movement of the treadle throws the cutters longitudinally to their extreme inward limit of movement, so that the entire work of recessing the stock is performed accurately and quickly and by one downward movement of the treadle.

For the purpose of adjusting the clamp longitudinally on its rod 35 I provide a collar 56 and a nut 57. By loosening the clampingscrew 34 of the clamping-block 32 and turning the nut 57 longitudinal adjustment of the clamp may be effected.

Figs. 8 and 9 show one of the wooden parts of a piano-action, it having the recesses 107 107, opposite each other, and the hole 108 drilled therethrough, all as provided for in the machine which has been described herein.

While I have herein mentioned my im proved machine as working upon wood, it will be apparent, of course, that it is adapted for use in many cases upon other materials as well, and I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the use thereof asawoodworking-machine.

I claim as my invention--- 1. A boring machine comprising oppositely-located rotating cutters longitudinally movable toward and from each other, a workclamp to secure the work in position between the cutters, means to rotate the said cutters, a treadle, rods 16, 16, connected with said treadle and chains or flexible connections connected with said rods, means of joining the said chains or flexible connections and the cutters, guides 15, 15 to change the direction of said chains or flexible connections,whereby to advance the cutters simultaneously against the work when the treadle is actuated, an arm to actuate the work-clamp, and a connection intermediate said arm and the treadle, whereby the movement of the treadle which advances the cutters works the clamp, substantially as described.

2. A boring machine comprising opposite1y-located rotating cutters longitudinally movable toward and from each other, a workclamp to secure the work in position between the cutters, means to rotate the said cutters, a treadle, devices connected with said treadle to advance the cutters simultaneously against the work when the treadle is actuated, the arm 51 having notch 52, a roller or projection connected with the movable part of the clamp, a spring to operate the said movable part, and a connection intermediate said arm and the treadle, whereby the movement of the treadle which advances the cutters works the clamp, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a rotating cutter movable longitudinally toward and from the work, a work-clamp having a movable yokeshaped member with its fingers projecting to opposite sides of the line of out, a rod 35, means for connecting the said member to said rod, a spring 37, a roller 50 carried by said rod, the arm 51 notched at 52, a part movable by the operator, means connected with the said part to advance the cutter to the work, and a connection between said part and said arm 51 whereby to actuate the latter, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY H. CUMMINGS.

Witnesses:

WM. A. MAcLEoD, CHAS. F. RANDALL. 

